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Paul Briggs has played on Danny Green's enormous ego all week and today there was real animosity at the weigh-in. I think the friendship will need some reparation in the days after the fight.
Green was fuming when Briggs brought Jeff Fenech into his camp, although he casually he dismissed it in the press. Green tried to be conciliatory towards Fenech after winning the WBA title in 2007, but Fenech rejected Green's overtures. There's no doubt the two men dislike each other intensely.
Green's worst fears were realised on Monday when Fenech took aim in the Sydney Morning Herald. A day earlier Briggs rubbished Green's entire career, in particular the Roy Jones fight, but it was Fenech's excoriating criticism of his former charge that raised eyebrows:
'What Danny Green is doing to Paul Briggs is criminal, when you give someone six weeks to prepare for a world title fight it is criminal,'' Fenech said. ''Briggsy has been out for more than three years. Your body cannot get back in shape in six weeks. It's impossible.
''Paul has got a puncher's chance but if he doesn't catch Danny early, he has no chance. This is another nail in the coffin for boxing. Why do you think the [NSW Combat Sports] Authority stopped it from going ahead in NSW?''.
''The best thing Briggs has on his side is [trainer] Billy Hussein because Billy will look after Paul. He will throw in the towel when it is time. To all the people who want to pay their $50 to watch it and then complain - don't blame Billy, don't blame Paul, blame Danny Green.
''He has offered Paul a good pay day, and that is all that is exciting to Paul. If they'd given me three-and-a-half months to work with Paul, I would have convinced the authority he was ready, but I haven't been here. Briggsy is not the underdog, he is the under, under, underdog.''
It was only Green's influence with WA boxing that saved the fight from being scrapped once the NSW Combat Authority refused to license Briggs. The 200-300k Briggs is earning for this fight nearly disappeared but for Green's fast intervention.
Today Briggs showed up late to the weigh-in and came in at 191. The contract was a 184 limit. While Green expressed his disgust in no uncertain terms, Briggs refused to apologise and laughed openly at journalists who didn't know the cruiserweight limit is 200lb. Briggs' open nonchalance indicated he never intended to honour the catchweight, and doesn't care about the penalities, if there are any.
All the chumminess at the beginning of the promotion seems to have disappeared. Green is a $1.07-1 favourite to win by decision, and $1.15 by KO. I've heard some bookies are offering $8 for a Briggs win.
I'm not sure if it's going to be a war like the fighters predict, or a travesty like many fans are saying. I've been tossing up whether or not to bother going to see it. Something tells me it's my duty to go see the last ever fight of Hurricane Briggs' career.
Green was fuming when Briggs brought Jeff Fenech into his camp, although he casually he dismissed it in the press. Green tried to be conciliatory towards Fenech after winning the WBA title in 2007, but Fenech rejected Green's overtures. There's no doubt the two men dislike each other intensely.
Green's worst fears were realised on Monday when Fenech took aim in the Sydney Morning Herald. A day earlier Briggs rubbished Green's entire career, in particular the Roy Jones fight, but it was Fenech's excoriating criticism of his former charge that raised eyebrows:
'What Danny Green is doing to Paul Briggs is criminal, when you give someone six weeks to prepare for a world title fight it is criminal,'' Fenech said. ''Briggsy has been out for more than three years. Your body cannot get back in shape in six weeks. It's impossible.
''Paul has got a puncher's chance but if he doesn't catch Danny early, he has no chance. This is another nail in the coffin for boxing. Why do you think the [NSW Combat Sports] Authority stopped it from going ahead in NSW?''.
''The best thing Briggs has on his side is [trainer] Billy Hussein because Billy will look after Paul. He will throw in the towel when it is time. To all the people who want to pay their $50 to watch it and then complain - don't blame Billy, don't blame Paul, blame Danny Green.
''He has offered Paul a good pay day, and that is all that is exciting to Paul. If they'd given me three-and-a-half months to work with Paul, I would have convinced the authority he was ready, but I haven't been here. Briggsy is not the underdog, he is the under, under, underdog.''
It was only Green's influence with WA boxing that saved the fight from being scrapped once the NSW Combat Authority refused to license Briggs. The 200-300k Briggs is earning for this fight nearly disappeared but for Green's fast intervention.
Today Briggs showed up late to the weigh-in and came in at 191. The contract was a 184 limit. While Green expressed his disgust in no uncertain terms, Briggs refused to apologise and laughed openly at journalists who didn't know the cruiserweight limit is 200lb. Briggs' open nonchalance indicated he never intended to honour the catchweight, and doesn't care about the penalities, if there are any.
All the chumminess at the beginning of the promotion seems to have disappeared. Green is a $1.07-1 favourite to win by decision, and $1.15 by KO. I've heard some bookies are offering $8 for a Briggs win.
I'm not sure if it's going to be a war like the fighters predict, or a travesty like many fans are saying. I've been tossing up whether or not to bother going to see it. Something tells me it's my duty to go see the last ever fight of Hurricane Briggs' career.